this will never end | Aug 12 - Aug 18 2026
This is the week I take for granted. The weather has been good for months, the big events on the calendar have passed, but it's not quite the end yet. Next week the CNE begins and it feels like the unofficial end of summer. This week slips by without anyone noticing. Try to enjoy something outdoors this week, even if it's just a walk from work.
The calendars are all here, they will have to all be updated soon. The daily posts with picks posted in the mornings are always here.
The First Dozen
1. Blackout Anniversary Party
This might be one of those events you wish you were at after it has already happened. Let me read you the description: "Come on a magical journey and celebrate Toronto the Good. Event features picnic, bike rave, and parade." I don't what to expect, but because of whose putting it together, I trust them to make it a night to remember. This could be the most Bellwoods event ever.
Instagram
2. Really Really Free Market
A free market where everything is really, really free. A nice respite from everything else. You can donate clean, new, gently used, or items in good working condition (until 5:30 pm) or browse and discover treasures someone else has passed forward. Also features Scadding Courts Thursday Community Food Market for fresh, affordable produce.
3. Perseids Meteor Showers
Late at night get somewhere as dark as possible, away from city lights and lie down to look up at the sky and catch the Perseids pass by. It's always worth it. I have a rule for this round-up, nothing out of Toronto, but this will never be visible with our city lights. If you can get out, drive somewhere where the lights of the city aren't creating light pollution, you'll be in for a magical night.
4. Jazzy Blockparty
A block party that was supposed to mark the end of an event space. The city is building a new green space for Queen West and will be knocking down the building, but the lease has been extended til the end of the year. So now it's just a celebration.
DICE
5. Outdoor Movie: The Queen Of My Dreams (2023)
Bell Manor will still be busy because of the following that TOPS has, but a more obscure movie and a more obscure park means fewer people. This movie was great, it was screened at Regent Park a few years ago and is worth seeing.
TOPS 2026
6. Maha Onam Festival
Onam is Kerala's iconic harvest festival. The highlight will be the tug of war competition and the cultural procession starting at 4p.
7. Open Canvas + Wavelength Summer Thing
Two events at Trillium Park this weekend, both a version of a music festival. On Saturday it's two stages of music and art by the water. Sunday is the Wavelength Summer Thing headlined by Shad but featuring a fully Canadian artist lineup. All with a close-up view of where they will build the provincially-funded parking lot for a spa.
8. Taste of Manila
Taste the authentic flavours of the Philippines at this festival in what has become Little Manila. 2 days with a culture that knows how to throw a party.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Db8st_aGfhP/?hl=en&img_index=1
9. The Reading Club
There are a lot of book clubs all over the city. I'm thinking through how to feature them as you need advance notice to read the featured books. For now, here's another one you can bring whatever you're reading near the AGO
Instagram
10. Live Band Karaoke
You get a full band backing you up while you sing your karaoke song. Always a lot of fun, except for that one person without self-awareness. Sign-up 30 minutes in advance.
Eventbrite
11. In The Museum Garden
An intimate museum garden with free poetry, music, open mic, and a writer's circle. As the artist who puts it together says, "For free, because the economy is rotting". A quiet event for those who need that.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DbtaVBcFfZl/
12. SPICE Chess Club Night
They claim they are the number one chess club. Either way, you'll get chess, a DJ, and an acceptance of all levels welcome. Chess became cool overnight it seems.
Instagram
Art Exhibits
Forest Hill Library Wed-Tue 10a-5p | Faustine Mendoza
Northern District Library Wed-Tue 10a-5p | Cityscape
North York Central Library Wed-Tue 10a-5p | Fatyma Khan
Montgomery's Inn Wed-Tue 11a-5p | Artistic Differences
Toronto Sculpture Garden Wed-Tue 11a-5p | Waiting Rooms
Gallery 44 Wed-Tue 11a-5p | Embed v2 + Low Res 2026
The Power Plant Wed-Thu, Sat-Sun 11a-6p, Fri 11a-8p | Colourful Parachutes
Clark Centre For The Arts Wed 9a-8p, Thu-Tue 9a-4p | Multiple Exhibitions
Bata Shoe Museum, Aug 16, 12p-5p | Free Sundays
Lillian H. Smith Library Mon-Tue 10a-5p | Set Phasers
Outdoor Movies
POSTPONED Kew Gardens, Aug 12, 8p-10:14p | Practical Magic (1998)
Canoe Landing Park, Aug 13, 8p-10:30p | Dirty Dancing (1987)
Bell Manor Park, Aug 14, 8p-10:03p | The Princess Bride (1987)
Leslie Grove Park, Aug 15, 7:30p-11p | The Sandlot (1993)
Harbourfront Centre Theatre, Aug 18, 8:30p-11:30p | Moulin Rouge (2001)
Trinity Bellwoods Park, Aug 18, 8p-11p | Chef (2014)
Live Music
North American Centre Courtyard, Aug 12, 5:30p-7:30p | Barbra Lica
St. James Park, Aug 13, 7p-9p | Eman Pirzada
Music Garden, Aug 13, 7p-8p | Daughters of Donbas
Village Of Yorkville Park, Aug 15, 1:30p-4:30p | Fat Quarter
Music Garden, Aug 16, 4p-5p | Madeleine Roger
Farmers' Markets
Montgomery's Inn, Aug 12, 2p-6p | Montgomery's Inn Farmers' Market
Runnymede Presbyterian Church, Aug 12, 3p-7p | Annette Village Farmers' Market
Black Creek Community Farm, Aug 13, 2p-7p | Black Creek Farm Stand & Market
Underpass Park, Aug 13, 4p-7:30p | Underpass Park Farmers Market
Scadding Court Community Centre, Aug 13-14, 4p-7p | Scadding Market
North York Farmers' Market, Aug 13, 8a-2p | North York Farmers' Market
Ashbridge Estate, Aug 15, 10a-5p | Curated flea market
Wychwood Barns, Aug 15, 8a-1p | The Stop's Farmers Market
University Ave, Aug 18, 10a-2p | The Market
June Rowlands Park, Aug 18, 3p-7p | Davisville Farmers' Market
Fitness
Sankofa Square, Aug 12, 6p-9p | Socacize
Neo Coffee Bar, Aug 14, 6a-7a | Curre Club 6AM run
Trinity Bellwoods Park, Aug 15, 10a-11a | Yogalates Fusion
Trillium Park, Aug 15, 10a-11a | Outdoor yoga
Humber Bay Shores Park, Aug 15, 9a-10a | Community yoga
Humber Bay Park West, Aug 15, 9a-9:45a | Mindfulness meditation
Christie Pits Park, Aug 16, 1p-2p | Sunday Recovery stretching
Downsview Park, Aug 16, 9:45a-10:45a | Family yoga
Withrow Park, Aug 18, 7p-8p | Soma Yoga
Revive Wellness Club, Aug 16, 9a-10:30a | Sunday Morning Social Walk High Park
That's everything for this week. Thanks for the ongoing support.
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